In Harare, Zimbabwe, leaders from African nations convened on Thursday to discuss the strategic withdrawal of troops from South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi who were stationed in the mineral-abundant eastern Congo. These forces were initially deployed in 2023 by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in response to the M23 rebel insurgency, which resulted in the loss of several peacekeeping lives and severe regional destabilization.
The deployment faced increased public scrutiny after violent clashes earlier this year left 14 South African and three Malawian peacekeepers dead. After a virtual meeting among the 16-member bloc, which also includes the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the decision for a pullout was formalized. Coinciding with this announcement, Angola prepared to host peace talks between the Congolese government and M23 representatives in a bid to resolve the conflict.
While specific dates for the troop withdrawal were not confirmed, the SADC indicated that it would occur gradually. South Africa’s Foreign Minister, Ronald Lamola, emphasized the need for a comprehensive ceasefire, urging all uninvited foreign entities involved in the conflict to similarly retreat and engage in dialogue.
Eastern Congo has long been a hotspot of violence and competition for mineral wealth, attracting numerous factions, including government forces, mercenaries, the U.N. peacekeepers, and over a hundred other armed groups. These entities vie for territorial control and resources, with some being accused of severe human rights abuses such as mass killings and ethnic cleansing.
Despite reports from U.N. experts that suggested the M23 rebels received support from approximately 4,000 troops from Rwanda, the Rwandan government has consistently refuted claims of backing the rebellion that has contributed to making eastern Congo one of the world’s most significant humanitarian crises, displacing more than seven million people.
The SADC’s withdrawal was prompted in part by the rebels’ rapid territorial gains, which included the capture of Goma, eastern Congo’s principal city, and Bukavu, its second-largest, thereby accentuating the urgency for a reevaluation of troop deployment.
The troop casualties included 14 South African soldiers and at least three from Malawi during January’s confrontations. In the aftermath, the United Nations conducted medical evacuations for critically injured South African peacekeepers, though exact numbers remain undisclosed.
Initially, SADC deployed its peacekeeping forces in December 2023, with an extension for their mission granted the following November in Harare, Zimbabwe. President Emmerson Mnangagwa, as the current chairman of SADC, implored member states for continued logistical support to ensure the safe and organized withdrawal of troops and equipment—a move he views as pivotal to cultivating lasting peace in the region.
In parallel to these efforts, the U.N. Human Rights Council recently launched an investigative commission to examine potential human rights violations, including allegations of sexual violence and extrajudicial killings perpetrated by different factions within the conflict.
